"How might a tenancy by the entirety protect my house from lawsuits and claims?"
Other options you might consider could be a qualified personal residence trust ("QPRT"), having another type irrevocable trust own the house, give it solely to your spouse (that is often not an ideal move for lots of reasons), etc.
A major reason many wealthy people don't use Tenants by the Entirety (other than thinking putting the house in one name is a solution which it isn't) is because for estate tax reasons many people own their home as Tenants in Common so that if either spouse dies they can use 1/2 the value of the house to fund a by pass trust under their will.
While your question inquired about specific state law, we don't give any specific advice by state. You'll have to consult a real estate attorney and estate planner in your state.